JournalismPakistan.com | Published June 27, 2012
Join our WhatsApp channel
KARACHI: "It was just another work day. The Aaj newsroom was busy, the office was packed as it usually is, people were going about their work… when the first shots rang out," says anchor Fareed Rais about the attack on Aaj TV by four armed men on motorbikes on Monday night.
“There was a moment’s silence as people tried to comprehend what was happening. With the realization that the channel’s office was under attack from armed men, panic quickly set in,” Fareed told Journalism Pakistan.com.
He said people were running in all directions, some hit the floor and others took cover wherever they could. “It was chaotic and terrifying.”
“We were pained to know a security guard and another employee of Aaj were injured in the attack. As soon as the gunmen fled, the injured men were rushed to hospital. Thank God they are safe.”
He said some parked vehicles belonging to Aaj staff and visitors were also damaged in the attack, which has been claimed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned terrorist outfit that says it is waging war against ‘the enemies of Pakistan’.
“It is surprising that we were the first target of this group,” another Aaj worker, who preferred to stay anonymous, said. “The Aaj office is located in Gurumandar, which is a very busy junction. It is not easy to get away and yet these AK-47-totting gunmen did.”
A reporter with Business Recorder, an Aaj sister concern, said the attack took place despite a Ranger’s mobile stationed a few hundred yards away.
According to the latest information available, the gunmen appeared to have come from the direction of Lasbela and fled in the direction from which they came.
A female employee of Aaj said she thought she was going to die. “There was so much noise; even now my ears are ringing with the sound of gunfire. I am also afraid now because we have now learned the TTP has warned further attacks against the media. Being associated with a media organization is proving to be dangerous.”
The TTP has said it would carry out attacks against the media in Pakistan if it continued to show bias against the militant outfit. “We want journalists to be journalists and stay unbiased,” a spokesman of the TTP said, warning in an email that ‘negative propaganda’ against them had to stop.
“If the media does not change its policy then it will have to face the consequences,” the email concluded.
Six journalists have been killed in Pakistan so far this year and international media watchdogs say it remains one of the most dangerous places for journalists.
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.